Happy Birthday Colin!

Colin had his 2nd birthday party at the Spray and Play.  It was a very hot and humid day, perfect for playing in the water!

 a Yo Gabba Gabba theme!

 quite the mess cupcakes make, huh!

 back playing after eating and opening presents

Lincoln Park Zoo

Lincoln Park Zoo is free in Chicago...our neighbors invited us to join them.

checking out the otters, I think.

 Josh and Madden weren't quite tall enough to figure out these phone things

 But they do walk slower when holding hands.  Plus they look cute.

enjoying a smoothie (before he dumped it out) at the farmers market afterwards.

This last series of pictures, I'll call the budding photographer because Josh proceeded to take about 80 shots with the camera this morning.  His favorite subject, his friend Madden!  Josh getting much better about taking pictures of something, maybe because of the view finder on the back.  I imagine when I was a kid with no digital display on the back and actual film, this play wouldn't have lasted quite so long.

After dinner drinks

Smoothies with yogurt fruit and ice seem to be a KEy way to get fruits in to my kid's belly...dad enjoying one too.

Swimming

the wading pool near our house was perfect on the hot summer day. (Josh is in a blue shirt)

Arlington Heights Frontier Days

We've lived in Arlington Heights almost 3 years now and just this year for the first time checked out frontier days.  Josh on his first carousel.

I told you he finds trains every where he goes.  They had several kiddie rides and Madden and Josh had a lot of fun playing together!

The fruits of labor

Jared decided to grow some vegetables this summer.  The strawberries didn't make it, but look at these onions and lettuce.  We also had spinach

Brookfield Zoo

Jared had the Friday before July 4th off.  It was supposed to be REALLY hot, but we lucked out with good weather.  We checked out the dolphin show first

can you see the dolphin in the air, right in the center?

Josh finds trains every where he goes, including the playground!

Since we got a late start, we only stayed for a few hours.  But that's the beauty of having a membership.  Plan to go back again several time!